Kentucky Derby 2012: Bold Predictions for This Year's Race

The 2012 Kentucky Derby is just two days away, and Churchill Downs is going to give us the best race we've seen in years. The 138th Running of the Roses has an incredibly talented field that ensures some great action on Saturday, as the race for the Triple Crown begins.

There is an incredible amount of excitement surrounding this year's Kentucky Derby.

Perhaps it is the field, perhaps it is the fact that the Triple Crown has not been hoisted in 34 yeas, but the first leg of the Triple Crown is sure to be a great one.

These are my bold predictions for the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

Bodemeister Disappoints

Bodemeister has taken the No. 1 spot for most power rankings, thanks to a huge, nine-length victory at the Arkansas Derby.

However, Bodemeister does not deserve this No. 1 ranking, and he is going to disappoint fans who bet on him on Saturday.

His high status is based too much on one good run at Arkansas and is over-inflated. He should be ranked somewhere in the Top 10, but No. 1 is way too high. This leaves him in a position where he is bound to disappoint, and gamblers should be wary.

Dullahan Falls Just Short

Dullahan is the best closer in the 2012 Kentucky Derby field. Period.

He can flat-out fly down the stretch at the end of the race, and if he is anywhere near the front of the pack when coming down the home stretch, he is almost guaranteed a victory.

Dullahan has some problems at the start of races, however, and in such a talented field, he won't be able to mount the comeback to win at Churchill Downs.

I'll Have Another Redefines Himself

I'll Have Another is going to surprise the fans at Churchill Downs during this year's Kentucky Derby.

He's only had one bad race in his career, coming in sixth at the Hopeful Stakes on a wet, sloppy track. He's been incredibly consistent and seems to always finish in the top three, but this one poor race has defined his career.

That is, until now.

I'll Have Another is going to have another great race at Churchill Downs, showing off his talent once again. This will finally give him a good reputation, as he almost wins the Running of the Roses.

Hansen Has Good Showing from 14th Post

Hansen dodged a bullet when it was announced that Daddy Long Legs would take the dreaded rail post, leaving the No. 14 slot to Hansen.

While this isn't the best spot for Hansen, it is certainly better than the rail, and with an outside post he is going to do well on Saturday.

With the ability to stalk from the No. 14 post, Hansen is in a good position to show fans what he can do.

Alpha Has a Bad Start...Again

Alpha is one of the fastest horses in the field, but he has had too many slow starts for it to be a coincidence. We're all second-guessing him now, and for a good reason.

He simply just doesn't get out of the gate quickly, and his extreme speed is useless because of it.

I see Alpha having yet another slow start, which takes him out of contention in this year's Run for the Roses.

The Race Ends in a Photo Finish

The talent in this year's Kentucky Derby field is just unbelievable. No matter how many times I say it, it won't lose its meaning because this is possibly the most talented field in a decade.

To see all of these amazing horses in one gate is truly special, and it is next to impossible to pick just one.

I see this being a incredibly close race because of all the talent. Surely there will be a cluster of five to eight horses fighting for first by the end, and it will be too close to call.

This year's Derby will be a photo finish.

Union Rags Proves Everyone Right

Union Rags is an ultra-consistent horse who always finishes near first. He has dropped in power rankings but is still the best in the field and will win the Kentucky Derby.

Union Rags has fallen because of a poor showing at the Florida Derby. He was supposed to run away with the race, but a bad race from jockey Julien Leparoux and just plain bad luck had him finish in a "disastrous" way.

He finished third.

Even one of the worst showings in his career led to a third-place finish, and while the competition will be much stiffer during the Running of the Roses, Union Rags will still be the one in the Victor's Circle at the end of the day on Saturday.

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